Larry Birkhead Selling Off Anna Nicole's Things to Benefit Dannielynn

Anna Nicole Smith's memorabilia is being auctioned off by Larry Birkhead, her former partner, to benefit their daughter, Dannielynn, reports Reuters.

"It's like, do I want to hold on to one of Anna's dresses, or do I want to try to help Dannielynn's future?" said Birkhead. Auction proceeds will go to the 3-year-old girl as well as charity.

Birkhead, a photographer, has spent the last three or four months "buried in storage bins, archiving and cataloging" Smith's worldly possessions. Not all of the items are to be sold -- some items will be held as keepsakes for Dannielynn.

A wide variety of possessions are on the block. Most notable are a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster and a collection of bronze statues, both given to Smith by billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall during their highly-lampooned marriage. Other intriguing items include home furniture displayed on E!'s 'The Anna Nicole Show' as well as her envied collection of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, including a Marilyn cookie jar. Also to be sold are red carpet gowns and Smith's own paintings.

"You'll see Anna's love for the finer things, but you'll also see the down home girl that would paint pictures and carry little, fun purses," Birkhead reminisced. This includes pet-related memorabilia. The dog bed and bowls that belonged to her miniature poodle Sugar Pie will also be sold. And in a nod to her charity work, PETA will gain the proceeds from the sale of a dress Smith wore in an ad for the animal rights group. Julien's Auctions will hold the event at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on June 26 in Las Vegas.

The Anna Nicole and Daniel Wayne Smith Foundation will earn a flat fee from the items sold -- with the exception of the PETA gown. Smith started the Foundation, which works to assist underprivileged kids, after son Daniel died of an accidental drug overdose just a few days after Dannielynn's birth. He was 20. Any remaining money will be put in trust for the young girl.

Smith herself died of an accidental drug overdose in February 2007. The former Guess and Playboy model was embroiled in a legal battle regarding the estate of late-husband Marshall, which has been ongoing. In March 2010, a lawsuit by Smith's estate for $300 million from Marshall's estate was denied in full by a federal appeals court. This past week, a request to reconsider this decision was denied by an appeals court. Dannielynn would have been the main benefactor of any judgment.

Birkhead is adamant that he has not been gold digging. "We have money," he said. "We have more than enough to survive on. [Auction proceeds] would just supplement that."

So why the prolonged legal battles? "Dannielynn has different needs than other kids," explained Birkhead. "She has to have security because we have a lot of curious people and it creates a bit of a problem. And now that she's starting school, she'll need to go to a private school."

Birkhead waged a successful paternity battle and raises his daughter between their homes in Los Angeles and Kentucky. And although he misses Smith and does not necessarily want to part with these mementos, he does hold onto something else. "I have come to the realization that you don't have to have something in your hands for it to be a memory," said Birkhead.

And finally, does Birkhead think Smith would approve of his actions? "I think Anna would appreciate that these items are going to help Dannielynn thrive and flourish and continue being the great kid that she is."

Celebrity Kids

I DONT BLAME LARRY FOR SELLING THESE THINGS HE HAS TO DO WHATS BEST FOR DANNI.ANNA ALWAYS WANTED THE BEST AND SHE WOULD WANT THAT FOR HER DAUGHTER IF IT TOOK SELLING EVERYTHING.GOODLUCK LARRY AND DANNI!!!!

Green.....Realy Is't Your Color.....Jealous People...Haters...the woman is dead let her name sake rest in peace! That man didn't give her anything he didn't want her to have! Someone should tell that to his GREEDY buck grabbing son!

JAN; The case of the millionare dead husband was never closed and finalized! Both parties died, and there have been no decisions on how much money if any will be given to anyone! As far as I'm concerned...its a dead issue! I will be surprised if it is ever resolved!

There was a Court case pending, resolved after she died; Smith's estate lost.I don't pay much attention to such things, but I believe the issue was that there were no acceptably legal "writings", i.e. lots of promises, but no valid will

I wan't to know where Howard Stern is in all this. Both he and Birkhead made some kind of a deal to either share the kid or the money! I wouldn't trust either one but Stern was still being investigated in Anna Nichole's death as far as I know. Prescriptions obtained under his and others names? Something's still rotten in Denmark!

Larry seems to be a good father, much more caring than Stern would be. The little girl seems happy and well-cared for, and this is paramount. I wish Larry continued success raising his daughter, and being the obvious, kind and upstanding person that he is.

Wow. Hopefully--he'll actually use it for Dani and not his lifestyle. I think he should keep a few things of her mother's things for her to at least know a lil bit about her mother. Not what the media dribbled up and surely not the short-lived bedroom action he/anna had. Seriously, I don't feel conversation was their strong points and Dani was prolly the only blessing in that lil mix n' match relationship. Dunno, if he's a good father or anything it's not like a picture says how he treats her in private. She has modeling genes from her mother so she takes a good picture and he's quick to jump in front of a camera. Doesn't mean a thing. If he treats her great it's amazing.

I think that Howard K.Stern,He is helping Larry,Look at it this way,If it was'nt for Howard,Larry,could not have these things,clothes,cars,etc.Howard was the person that had Anna's everything.I hope them all the best,People give Howard a good man,He loved Anna too.

This man has stepped up to the plate for this little girl. It is not unusual for the family of a deceased to eventually sell off anything they do not wish to keep. I am sure Smith would want any value from her possessions to go to her daughter. I hope Larry Birkhead and daughter do well out of it.

I wish the very best for Larry, and Danielynn. It was sad when Anna died, and she had just gave birth to this beautiful little girl. The sweet part was Larry stepping up to the plate, unlike so many men would do. Thank God for dna. Most likely Howard would be raising Anna and Larrys child.